Chapter 55

The reunion was of necessity short because Taeron needed to return to the surface to warn the emperor of Staefyn's latest perfidy. Although he had advised against it Lady Arora insisted that her children and grandson accompany them to the planet to wait at Edgeland Fortress for word from Trey before continuing on to the Imperia together. She did not need to argue with him because Taeron agreed that the emperor would want to reunite with his son. Lord Duo suggested that Jeshed remain behind with the flimsy excuse that he did not officially belong to a house and that they would wait for Trey's approval. Taeron had overheard him remark to Trynity that he wanted more time with him before Larya could mold him to her liking.

The flight to the surface was uneventful despite fear that Staefyn might send gliders after them, but he must have depleted that resource with the brief battle to prevent the imperial warriors from reaching Teralon. Danlaer offered to spin the craft a few times to make Taeron feel more at home and when Shamara laughed, her mother scolded her for making light of Taeron's affliction. Shortly after, Lady Arora used her magic to keep Taeron from shaming himself shortly as the descended to the planet. Listening to the imperial family interact on the short trip to the surface made Taeron long for the days he had lived with them at the imperial palace when he was but a bastard without a house living a life of privilege with the emperor's family. The emperor had made him one of them now and he had weighty responsibilities that he hoped he could fulfill.

After landing near Edgeland Fortress at the airfield, they were welcomed by Apolo who had immediately held his sister in an embrace that touched Taeron's heart. As children they believed they were the only Guerani left on Calabria and could trust only each other. Apolo must have been horrified to hear how close his beloved sister had come to losing her life, and as they held each other, Taeron guessed they were communicating without speaking. When they finally stepped away, he saw that their cheeks were wet with tears.

Taeron accompanied the family to the fortress and after his mother greeted him effusively, he managed to escape without giving her any explanation about the absence of the woman he was to marry. His excuse was to deliver the crystals that would power the communication systems giving the emperor access to his allies on other planets once again by establishing a link to the various satellites that Bayman had scattered through the binary system. He doubted the emperor would allow him to contact Dijana, but as Taeron left the control room behind, he fantasized about speaking to her again without her father looming over her.

Having left the repairs to men who had more knowledge than him of what they should do, he avoided the family quarters where his mother would be entertaining the emperor's family. He climbed to the roof of the fortress and without knowing why, he turned to face the hills that were barely visibile in the waning light of the second sun. Guerani Palace was in that direction and as he peered into the darkness to make out the faint outline of the mountains, he thought he could hear whispering, but he knew it was only the wind. He had wanted to think about how he was going to make Staefyn pay for all that he had done, not leaving his vengeance this time to others. But his eyes closed and his body shuddered as soothing tremors rippled through him. For several moments he stood thus, listening to the incomprehensible whispers on the wind.

"I thought you might be in the communications center supervising."

Apolo's voice seemed to come from the whispers, but Taeron realized his mother's mate was standing behind him. Reluctantly he opened his eyes and left behind the only peace he had known since Dijana had sent him out of her life.

"Amyr told us about Princess Dijana," Apolo said as he laid a comforting hand on Taeron's shoulder. Apolo must have used his powers to ease him although the hand he had lain on him did not contain the same power to which he had surrendered moments ago.

"I expected my mother," he said with a sigh.

Apolo smiled. "She is completely out of her element with six Guerani in her presence. I think she is afraid they will put her in a trance or accidentally draw her into one which I would not put past Shamara. I was able to slip away while she was preoccupied."

Taeron wondered if the presence of so many of the healers had given him the peace he had felt moments ago.

"We all know how you must feel, Taeron."

"I cannot give up hope that Dijana will come to her senses." Hope was all that kept his heart beating. "In the meantime, I have obligations and I cannot let my personal feelings get in the way of what I must do for the emperor."

"Do not let the brother of my heart trample upon your feelings, Taeron. He must consider the needs of Calabria before his own, and by extension, yours."

When had he ever? wondered Taeron without speaking. The emperor had fallen in love with a Guerani female, saved their female child from the Wastelands and tried to spare his father's life.

"There is a limit to how much he can defy the imperials. His power comes from the warlords that have given their oaths, and sooner rather than later he will have to appease them."

Taeron suspected that both Apolo and Stryfe knew what Trey had planned for him and that he was going to be offered as sacrifice.

Apolo turned towards the hills and for a moment he did not speak and when Taeron looked at him, he saw that the Guerani was feeling as Taeron had when he stood alone. Then he turned to look at him. "In all this time you have been gone, Trey has scarcely responded to the bandits that roam freely in the hills, raiding sporadically in the Wasteland settlements. He has been waiting patiently for you to return, to send you off to war again, this time on Calabria."

Taeron sighed heavily, knowing it was his duty but wishing he could have some respite from war. Roehan had good reason to want something for his daughter than a man that coated his blade with blood from sunup to sundown and the hours inbetween.

"There was much killing on Teralon," he told Apolo. "It was easier to kill battle thralls the first time I was there than to butcher men who were led astray by a greedy fool."

"You will find the same here." said Apolo. "In those days after Trey came to power, there were few days that we were not fighting. Between the clans and the houses that had wanted to wrest power from Zeno's house, we rushed from one battle to another. If we did not have house Wattan with us, house Caron would have defeated us, and I often suspected that house Wattan allied with Trey because they were neighbors of house Caron to the south and wanted to see them crushed for real or imagined transgressions against them."

Taeron remembered the female of house Caron that had presented herself, but Apolo continued speaking to keep him from dreading the possibility that Trey would demand that he take her as his mate.

"I did not enjoy killing my fellow Calabrians, but they stood between the corruption of the past and the hope for a better future for us all. I was glad when Rendael of house Caron finally submitted to Trey and retired to his lands. Given his actions of late, Staefyn wants to return to those dark days. "

"Have you been able to discover why?" asked Taeron curiously.

Apolo shook his head. "The few men we have been able to capture had no insight to his motivation. One of the men referred to him as a mad sorcerer and I fear he must be to do what he has done. To buy Quynn as if she were a slave? My brother outlawed the sale of females long before Staefyn's birth so he will be dismayed to learn that his son purchased the daughter of his imperial guard as if she were livestock."

Taeron wished Apolo would accompany them to relay the news of Staefyn's dishonorable actions, but Apolo needed to command the fortress that stood between Imperia and the hills were a madman was gathering an army that would be commanded by a fiend. "I think Amyr wants to storm Guerani Palace," Taeron remarked.

"He has already mentioned a plan, but I am sure that I convinced him of the impossibility. We did not design the summer residence of the emperor with flaws that can be exploited. It is a fortress in the mountains that is locked tight against invasion." Apolo sighed deeply. "And Staefyn has warded the palace so well that I cannot detect anything beyond his spell."

"How are we going to dig the rat out of there?" asked Taeron, not liking what he was hearing. He had hoped that with Guerani on his side, they could find a way to penetrate the palace in the mountains.

"We will wait for him to make a move."

"That will give him more time to amass an army," pointed out Taeron.

"You cannot suggest striking now, Taeron. Even Amyr understands that to force his hand might provoke the Varoonyan warlord and there are surely limits to even Staefyn's ability to protect Quynn and her unborn child."

"I dislike waiting," Taeron grumbled. The sooner he put an end to Staefyn …. His body suddenly shuddered with the same calming tremors he felt earlier, and he glanced at Apolo to see if he was using his powers on him, but Apolo seemed oblivious.

"And while we wait, the rest of us will be amused at your expense, Taeron. Once the imperial families learn that you are available, their females will not let you up for air."

He frowned. "I have no interest in them."

Apolo ignored him. "Don't count on Arora for help. I heard her and Shamara bandying names of eligible females back and forth, Calabrian and Bayman women alike."

"And my mother? She must have her own opinion," commented Taeron resentfully. By the gods, he was done with courting, but he certainly did not want anyone else choosing a female for him or he was going to end up tied to an imperial whose males used him to increase their own power.

"She only wants what will make you happy." Apolo gave him a quick hug. "I had better return to her before she is overwhelmed."

Taeron had an early start in the morning so he went to his chamber and was not surprised that Amyr was not waiting for him. He probably still had much to discuss with his mother and sisters so he would not expect him to sleep on the mat laid out on the floor. Taeron doubted Amyr would ever lower himself to sleep there as he had many nights.

After removing his clothing, he laid back on the pillows and he closed his eyes and tried to sleep, but his thoughts kept returning to Dijana. Not the Dijana that had welcomed him into her bed, but the woman whose eyes were shadowed with pain, so sleep was long in coming and did not last long before a gentle hand on his cheek awoke him. He knew immediately who it was and did not hesitate to sit up to embrace his mother.

"You have avoided me since your arrival," she crooned softly as she caressed his cheek with the backs of her fingers. "You are not ashamed, are you? You do not blame yourself for her decision."

She knew him well. "I could not convince her of my love."

His mother sighed as she brought his head to her shoulder. "From what Amyr told me, Princess Dijana was very confused by all that had happened. She needs time to sort through it."

In the dark, he could admit to his mother his fear. "The emperor will ask me to take a different female as my mate. What will I do then when I love her so deeply?"

She huffed. "Trey can try to force you into a marriage you do not want, but if it is within my power and I believe Princess Dijana loves you in return, I will prevent such a union." She kissed the top of his head. "Now put aside your worries. Would you like to hear a story? I have recently heard a new one from an off world merchant who has since opened a shop in the plaza market. It is about a dragon king on a planet far away." She paused for a moment and then said, "I expected Jeshed to accompany you."

Taeron did not know how to respond when he knew she wanted the truth, so he first told him what his father said about waiting on Trey's approval and then what he had overheard him saying later.

"I am not surprised!" He was relieved that she only sounded irritated. "That fool has not realized yet that I will always have the last word concerning my children."

Since her statement was true, he did not argue for his father.

His mother's story must have put him to sleep because he awoke shortly after first sunrise to find that she had gone and as he suspected Amyr had not come to his room. By the time he finished washing and dressing for the day in an ornate, gold-embroidered purple tunic that his mother must have laid out for him, the second sun was rising so he went to the transport and was surprised to find Stryfe waiting for him as well as his mother and her mate.

"You missed the end of the story," she chided him after kissing his cheeks and giving him a quick hug.

Taeron smiled ruefully. "I doubt you finished it after I fell asleep."

She pinched his cheek. "I would not dream of leaving the story untold in its entirety."

"My sister will be remaining behind," Apolo informed him. "She wants to spend more time with us and her children before resuming her duties."

"We will be planning her reunion with her mate," his mother said. "I have some ideas that I may have to explain in detail to her. In some ways she is still very innocent in the ways of men."

Taeron did not ask what those ideas were and was glad for the distraction when Apolo handed him a leather bound packet. "Here is some reading material to entertain Trey: my reports."

Stryfe snorted and snatched the packet from Taeron. "You mean to say that it is material that I will read to him while he pretends to listen. Is there anything even remotely entertaining in your reports?"

"If you think the catalogue of damages to the fortress in the attack is entertaining, then yes."

Stryfe rolled his eyes and climbed onto the hover transport that would enable them to reach the city by late afternoon instead of the two days it usually took on horseback. Taeron looked past his mother hoping to see Amyr, but he had not come, and while he was not surprised he had slept late, he was disappointed to miss the chance to warn him against making any move against Guerani Palace. So after another hug from his mother, he boarded the transport with Stryfe and they took off.

Outside Imperia, Taeron met with the troops that had accompanied him to Teralon and he left the transport behind to mount a brightly caparisoned horse provided by the emperor for his entrance into the imperial city. Taeron wished that Amyr could have been able to ride with him to receive the tribute from the city that he deserved, but even if Trey had forgiven him privately, he had yet to do so publicly and the warlords might view Amyr's presence as defiance. Trey did not need another son to be seen as rebellious. Instead he rode with Darlac at his side with Meridon's men marching alongside the emperor's trained warriors. Taeron did not know how Trey would feel about it, but they deserved to be honored for their service to the emperor even if they had not given him an oath.

After the gates of the city swung wide to allow them entrance, Taeron mused how similar their procession through the avenue leading to the palace was to the day three years ago when he had returned from Varoonya. The people lining the street, crowding to get a view of the crown prince, cheered the returning forces and pretty females tossed flower petals at the imperial warriors.

When he reached the palace, he climbed the steps, but he paused at the top and turned around to face his men who had come to a stop in the plaza that was usually crowded with merchant stalls but which had been cleared for this occasion. Taeron thanked the warriors for their service and told them that it had been his honor to fight at their side. He expressed his hope that they would not soon be called again in the service of their emperor, but if they were, he would be confident that they would serve the empire as well as they had on Teralon. He entered the palace with the shouts of approval from the warriors and the deafening cheers of the people.

Unfortunately, once he was inside the enormous receiving hall, Taeron found that little had changed with the nobles except that now they seemed to view him with some degree of hostility. No doubt they saw him as a threat to their own perceived power in light of his success on Teralon, and there were still many who scorned him for who he was with no regard to what he had done.

The crowd waiting to see the emperor parted as he headed straight to the receiving chamber, his hands on the hilts of both of his swords to warn any ambitious imperial that he would be foolish to move against him. He must be scowling because men stumbled over themselves to get out of his way and even the females stayed away from him.

The double doors to the receiving room opened and the guards allowed him to enter with Stryfe and Darlac behind him. The emperor left his throne and Taeron expected him to greet him first, but Trey threw himself against Stryfe.

"Gods be praised you have returned! I have been so bored!" He hugged his scribe and then he looked at Taeron who saw his mischievous smile. "You did not think I missed you, did you, my son?"

Taeron chuckled and held out his hand and the emperor took it to pull him into an embrace. "I feared that you had not."

Trey nodded to Darlac. "I see that you brought Meridon's son back in one piece again." He raised a brow. "When is your father going to give me his oath?"

"When the suns collide," Darlac told him with a grunt.

Shaking his head, Trey turned back to Taeron. "I received your preliminary message, that Teralon has been sufficiently subdued, but I am perplexed about the part concerning Princess Dijana."

Taeron had prepared what he would say, had thought through his words many times, so now he took a breath and began. "I know that you ordered me to begin my house, and I swear to you on my honor that I tried..."

"By crawling up a rope to her chambers, risking his life," inserted Stryfe which earned him a grateful smile from the emperor for adding the detail.

Ignoring him, he continued, "...to the best of my abilities..."

"He can compose ballads," interrupted Darlac.

"And sing with a gods' blessed voice," added Stryfe.

"Interesting," said Trey as he stroked his chin between his thumb and his forefinger. "I may need to hear it myself to believe it."

Taeron took a calming breath before he unleashed his anger for having his carefully constructed apology torn asunder by Stryfe and Darlac. He shuddered to think of what Amyr would add if he were there.

"Princess Dijana has rejected my offer of marriage."

"Offer of marriage?" Trey's frown was dark and ominous. "I thought you were bonded and mated to that female."

"Her father, prince consort Roehan refused to recognize my bond." Then he added, "I submitted to treatment by the sorceress on Norvana, paid for by Teralon, to remove my bond."

Trey straightened and he looked now like the emperor of Calabria that inspired fear. "They dared refuse to recognize your rights?" He looked to Stryfe who nodded in confirmation, then he asked, "Who is Roehan? What happened to Balak? And who is the sorceress?"

Stryfe put his hand on the emperor's shoulder. "I have already told you of the sorceress."

Trey grunted. "The same female that unbonded Amyr from Quynn?"

"One in the same. She offered to unbond him again, but he refused. As for the rest, it's a long story. Do you have time?"

The emperor smiled and put his hand on the scribe's shoulder. "For you, Stryfe, I can make time." He looked at Taeron. "Send everyone away for the rest of the day."

Remembering how many people waited to be heard by the emperor, Taeron balked. "How do you intend for me to do that? I have already sent my men home so I will have to fight a pitched battle alone in the reception hall."

"I heard your rousing speech to your warriors on the steps. I wanted to cheer along with them." Trey chuckled although Taeron was not in the mood to deal either with the imperial nobility who were more venomous than the creatures in the northern marshlands of Teralon or with hearing the details of his failure in securing Princess Dijana as his wife.

"You have a dark look, Taeron. Go mingle with my nobles and I am sure one or two of them will try to stab you." Trey gave him a wink and then maneuvered Stryfe away and as Taeron turned to leave, he saw the emperor reaching for the long, round leather case in which Stryfe had placed the account of what had happened on Teralon.

Darlac accompanied him to the door. "Before this is over, you are going to be singing again. Do you remember the words?"

Even before the door closed he heard the emperor's laughter and Taeron sighed deeply at hearing the signal that his dignity had become severely compromised.

"Gods! I hope someone tries to stab me." He rolled his shoulders in anticipation. A little blood-letting might make him feel better.